Surgical technologist salary

Surgical technologists in the U.S. earn a median $64,650 a year.

Median pay
$64,650
Median hourly
$31.08
Typical range
$45,940–$96,940
Jobs
117,460

Pay range

Annual pay percentiles for surgical technologists in the U.S.
PercentileAnnual pay
10th (entry level)$45,940
25th$54,690
Median$64,650
75th$79,750
90th (top earners)$96,940

Pay in the biggest metro areas

Median pay by metro area
Metro areaMedian payJobs
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$84,1206,320
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$81,5803,440
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$79,9902,790
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$71,0502,660
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$66,3602,530
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$67,5702,400
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$65,5202,200
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$69,6502,020
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$78,0501,790
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI$65,8101,670

Surgical technologist salary by state

  1. 1Hawaii$82,640
  2. 2Oregon$81,390
  3. 3California$81,310
  4. 4Massachusetts$80,870
  5. 5Alaska$80,380
  6. 6Minnesota$80,210
  7. 7Connecticut$79,890
  8. 8New York$79,550
  9. –District of Columbia$77,520
  10. 9Washington$77,270
  11. 10New Jersey$77,200
  12. 11Colorado$75,740
  13. 12Nevada$75,480
  14. 13New Hampshire$75,040
  15. 14Rhode Island$74,130
  16. 15Wisconsin$74,120
  17. 16Idaho$72,550
  18. 17Arizona$72,260
  19. 18Maryland$68,970
  20. 19Virginia$67,580
  21. 20Texas$65,220
  22. 21Illinois$64,650
  23. 22Indiana$64,240
  24. 23Georgia$64,010
  25. 24Nebraska$63,880
  26. 25Michigan$63,320
  27. 26Maine$62,860
  28. 27Utah$62,720
  29. 28Pennsylvania$62,680
  30. 29Florida$62,440
  31. 30Ohio$62,420
  32. 31Delaware$62,250
  33. 32South Carolina$62,160
  34. 33North Dakota$61,640
  35. 34Oklahoma$61,190
  36. 35Missouri$61,120
  37. 36Montana$60,970
  38. 37North Carolina$60,920
  39. 38Vermont$60,660
  40. 39Kansas$60,600
  41. 40Iowa$60,540
  42. 41Tennessee$60,530
  43. 42Kentucky$60,490
  44. 43South Dakota$59,870
  45. 44Wyoming$58,850
  46. 45Arkansas$57,400
  47. 46Louisiana$57,370
  48. 47New Mexico$51,780
  49. 48Mississippi$49,810
  50. 49Alabama$49,420
  51. 50West Virginia$49,110
  52. –Puerto Rico$30,600

Start training

See what the work is like and how long training takes, then compare schools.

Surgical tech schoolsHow to become a surgical technologist

Frequently asked questions

How much do surgical technologists make?

The median pay for surgical technologists in the U.S. is $64,650 a year ($31.08 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $45,940, and the top 10% earn over $96,940.

Which states pay surgical technologists the most?

The top-paying states are Hawaii ($82,640), Oregon ($81,390), California ($81,310), Massachusetts ($80,870), Alaska ($80,380).

How can a surgical technologist earn more?

Pay rises with experience, certifications, specialized skills, overtime and willingness to travel. Union jobs and employers in high-cost metro areas often pay more. Our guide on how to become a surgical technologist covers the certifications that matter most.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (Surgical Technologists, SOC 29-2055). Figures exclude self-employed workers.